A Conversation With Genghis Khan

I wrote this allegory to demonstrate flaws and limitations in popular libertarian thinking. It’s directed very much at a libertarian / Rothbardian audience, though everyone is of course welcome to have a read:

“Genghis Khan: I am Genghis Khan. Not the actual one, but the author’s imperfect allegorical reflection. I like to rape, pillage, loot, and in general, be the flail of God.

Libertarian Villager: You shouldn’t do that stuff.

GK: Hahahahaha.

LV: Seriously.

GK: Why shouldn’t I?

LV: It violates self-ownership. Every person owns themselves.”

Read more: http://dailyanarchist.com/2014/02/16/a-conversation-with-genghis-khan/

Daily Lviv appearance: local autonomy, property rights, competing currencies, gun ownership.

A friend of mine invited me to attend a “press club” panel as an audience member. After it was finished, the practically pushed me in front of the camera and told the host the interview me. I’m glad he did.

Here’s our brief discussion (in Ukrainian) of local autonomy, property rights, and a little bit about competing currencies and gun ownership.

http://dailylviv.com/video/avtorske-video/samovryaduvannya-vryatuie-ukrayinu-vid-prodazhu

My Account & Analysis of Ukraine’s Civil Unrest

On January 22 three Ukrainian protesters were killed by riot police, two by gunshot. It happened, strangely enough, on Unity Day. The holiday marks a proclamation of unity made in 1919 between the short-lived Western Ukrainian government, who was then battling Polish forces for control of Eastern Galicia, and the similarly short-lived government in Kyiv, which was soon overrun by Bolshevik forces. Tragedy has been the hallmark of Ukrainian history since the Mongols sacked Kyiv in 1240.

So we now have the blood of good people, but what exactly has it baptized? This remains up for grabs.

More: http://dailyanarchist.com/2014/01/23/civil-unrest-in-ukraine/

The End of Surface Warfare

. . . . Perhaps American fleets are intended as targets — lambs sacrificed for the sake of the next glorious war in the spirit of the USS Maine, Lusitania, Gulf of Tonkin or (arguably) the USS Liberty. But the demagogues aspiring toward the next war should be careful about the punch they invite. The world may be one missile strike away from another paradigm shift in military affairs — the end of surface warfare.

Consider which you would rather be: a soldier trying to hit ships with missiles or a sailor trying to hit missiles with bullets. For the former, a five percent success rate can mean victory. For the latter, a ninety five percent success rate can mean defeat.

During the Falklands War, two British ships were sunk and a third damaged by Exocet missiles.

Missile technology has surely improved since 1982, and so have countermeasures. Which would you bet on? More importantly, which would be easier to finance: missiles or aircraft carrier fleets?

http://dailyanarchist.com/2013/11/27/the-end-of-surface-warfare/